DAVAO CITY , Philippines — A B’laan farmer was shot and killed by suspected military forces in Sitio Mahayag, Barangay Upper Suyan, Malapatan, Sarangani province, a spokesperson of a human rights group said on Tuesday.
Ali Macalintal, deputy Secretary general of Karapatan Socsksargen, identified the victim as Jimmy Ambat who was slain around 7:00 p.m last October 7 after soldiers belonging to the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion claimed that he was a communist rebel.
“Ipinapalabas ng AFP na si Jimmy ay napatay dahil miyembro di umano ng rebelde o New People’s Army ngunit ayon sa pamilya hindi totoo na miyembro ng rebelde si Jimmy Ambat,” he said.
Ambat was inside his residence together with his wife and children on Sunday evening but he went outside after he heard a loud scream of his nephew who was his neighbor. When Jimmy went outside, soldiers fired their guns at him resulting in his death, Macalintal said.
Macalintal learned from Ambat’s family that Jimmy’s nephew was screaming because he was being beaten up by soldiers belonging to the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion.
The family wanted to evacuate but was prevented from leaving by soldiers.
Karapatan- Socsksargen condemned the killing and scored the heavy deployment of government troops in the Barangay Upper Suyan, Malapatan, the same province.(davaotoday.com)
